Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-11-22

doomed up high ana clear against the starlit
dome OF heaven.
Fairfax began counting the men as they
approached nearer.
Twenty, twenty-One, twenty-five, tiosaty-
three, TwENTY-FouR, TWENTY-FIVEl
"Grcat heavensl Aud all powerful fell
lows, armed TO the toeth, too. Boys, this is
fight for life, and the 'Namovna's' crow
thirty miles awayl VIM you risk itin
"What l begin that l hnishr' quoth
Nebbitt grimly
As no other man said anything thoy oil
lay quiet, watching the turn of events.
Up 1t marched, that solid phalanx Of dcs-
perate mon; shoulder TO shoulder, four
ranks deep; six men in lino their case
knives and guns and pistols cleaning and
glttering in the starlight; silent and grim
and led on by man Of gigantic stature,
who strobe lmperiously before them
"That's Matteoln whispered Fairfax, as
he glanced mournfully at his own broken
arm and then at the tremendous franc of
the man.
At word from their leader, the men,
with ono accord, paused and stood motion
less like statues in the night, Stopping
out before them, he remained silent n mo-
ment. Every voice was hushed, save that
Of the breeze murmuring through the tow
or and tho wave tapping tho strand
Thon he began. Nebbitt, Oxford and Fair
fax, with their excellent knowledge Of
Italian, were easily enabled to follow him.
"Mates, We know how would havo won
the Greek woman; but tho poor, silly fool
escaped mo. Ye know how we slew our
stubborn captain and his shadow, Luigi, and
that swart Nubian flend, too, whose knife
bit so viciously into my scarce-healed side
Yo know how we have all risked our lives
like brave mon. But, like brave men, now
have We come to our reward The Vampa
Is ours and so are the broad seas and all
that sails them. For, with the riches Of that
Greek dog, we can make our ship fortress
impregnahle.
dWill you follow mo and live the life
speak OFF,
awe willl' came back tho deeptoned
answer.
''Then will read the writing"
Amidst the most breathless silence,
broken only by the roll Of the swell on the
shore and the distant sound OF steam es-
Gaping from the Vampa's safety-valve,
Matteo, translating the English into Italian,
read In q harsh, hard voice that penetrated
far and near into the quiet night air.
"Ien miles 10 the s0uth,re Of IdHgisrs stands
The ruined tOeer, III BAHIA. Tinelity steps due
northBdrd from Us eastern doorway Is stone,
turf-c0vered. This stone eneIOses he mouth ~
0i old rel, long since dried Dom pis iOsa,
after my fathers death, Al and least all his
pedlh-jsioels Of untold rGIts brdSs-bound
casks aud bores bursting 'pi,h gold and si'ver
coin, diamonds Of match Tess spieldor, pearls far
outshining those Of Ind, thousand flushing
precious stones aud UiDlslted iilgots-rieies
enough for tbs rnaddsst dreams Of avaries"
A wild cheer broke forth at the conclusion
Of his words. But it was hushed into i'm
mediate silence by the sharply-uttered com
mand and threatening gesture Of the
Italian.
"Now mates, l scanned the shore with
keenest eye for signs Of life whom we up
preached, but saw none, save that stranger
craft which we loft behind. u.s. steaming far
out to sea- But like not hor looks, nor do
know what hidden dangers Turk before u.s.
Therefore, rest on your arms and be ready
at a moments warning to follow me to the
death"
"Ayl that will wew answered they all
with one accord, as they clashed their
weapons together.
Then, suddenly, tho leader drew himself
10 his full height. and, looming gigantically
up in ihe darkness, put his hand upon one of
tho pistols in his belt, aud in slow, measured
tonca that implied but one answer to his
question, asked:
'Shall Mctteo's share be one-thlrd for
all his pails and risk as leaderi"
An unbrollen silence prevailed, which bo-
toliened tho unwilliDgness of the band to
assent to any such unequal division.
Once again, sharp and clear, piercing tho
calm air like the hard, cold ring Of steel,
rang out the resistless question, while the
sudden fash of pistol-barrel, drawn from
his belt, shot through the gloom. Cowed TO
obedience by the tremendous power which |
That fearless man welded over them, they |
responded as one man;
at shall bel"
'Then, hold the lantern, Tito. Now, one, |
two, three, fourm and he counted of twenty |
steps, with the compass in hand, and stood |
erect and still
"Give me tho iron bar, Tito"
High in air no raised it and brought 1t
down with such great force that it drove